Troubleshooting Brake Controller Not Working on a 2001 Dodge Ram 3500

Updated 03/12/2019 | Published 03/10/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(2710)

$134.95

LCD Digital Circuit Tester

(23)

$27.22

Question:

Hi I am not getting even 1 full volt out of my brake controller blue wire. i have replaced the brake controller and still not getting anything. I rewired the whole rear of my truck because of bad corroded wires. All trailer lights work but both brake controllers are not. I have a 2001 dodge ram 3500. im not sure if im hooking brake contoler wires up to factor wiring harness correct however ive switched wires around nothing seems to work. Also when i though my first brake controller went bad i could hear a loud humming noise coming from somewhere under the dash even without trailer connected. I am out of ideas to try. ive worked on it with a mechanic for 8 hrs today and we both could not figure it out. anything might help. thank you

asked by: Broc

Expert Reply:

What kind of brake controller do you have for your 2001 Dodge Ram 3500? If it is a proportional brake controller like the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885 then the only time you will be getting any kind of voltage on your blue wire is if you turn the power all of the way up and then use the manual override. Proportional brake controllers have an inertia sensor so if your vehicle isn't moving it won't send power back if your vehicle is sitting still.

According to my research you will want to connect the following blunt cut wires on your Dodge Ram to the following functions of your brake controller:

Red/Orange - 12V Power (Black for P2)
Black/Orange - Ground (White for P2)
Light Blue - Trailer Brake Output to 7-Way (Blue for P2)
White/Tan - Stop Light Switch (Red for P2)

If you use a circuit tester like part # PTW2992 you can verify the 12V power and the stop light switch wiring. Once you know that you have the 12V power use it to apply voltage to the light blue wire and see if that supplies power to the pin in the 5 o'clock position on your 7-Way. If it does then something is going on with your brake controllers but if you don't then you need to make sure that those blunt cut wires have the correct functions.

Let me know if you are still having issues and I can help you troubleshoot further.